Chabot College
Fall 2008
Course Outline for Digital Media 37
FLASH ACTION SCRIPT
Catalog Description:
37 - Flash ActionScript
3 units
Introduction to Adobe Flash, an authoring application for creating animation and user interfaces, with
emphasis on using the ActionScript scripting language to add interactivity to web pages. Basic objectoriented programming techniques; importing and modifying images, sounds, and video clips; using
interface elements such as menus, button groups, sliding controls, and text-input fields to control
animation, sound, and other multimedia elements. 2 hours lecture, 4 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 35, laboratory 70]
Prerequisite Skills: None
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
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use basic operating system features, including navigation of the desktop, saving and moving files
to various storage media, and adjusting system preferences;
launch Flash, navigate and customize its interface, use the tools available on its tool bars and
palettes, and apply commands by means of menus and keyboard shortcuts;
use Flash's drawing tools to create and edit vector images consisting of lines and fills;
create and edit symbols, and organize the library in which symbols are stored;
import multimedia files, including bitmapped images and audio and video clips;
export ("publish") a Flash movie in a format suitable for streaming over the web;
integrate a Flash movie into a web page, and test its performance under real-world conditions;
use Flash's built-in ActionScript editor to write and edit ActionScript code;
create ActionScript scripts that make use of basic programming elements such as variables,
if/then statements, and loops;
use built-in ActionScript classes such as the Sound, Date, Array, and String classes;
create user-defined classes;
write ActionScript code to process input from standard radio buttons, check boxes, and text
fields;
write ActionScript code to control movie clips, sounds, and other multimedia elements;
use Flash's debugging features to test and revise ActionScript code.
Course Content
1. Using basic operating system features, including navigation of the desktop, saving and moving
files to various storage media, and adjusting system preferences.
2. Launching Flash, navigating and customizing its interface, using the tools available on its
toolbars and palettes, and applying commands by means of menus and keyboard shortcuts.
3. Using Flash's drawing tools to create and edit vector images consisting of lines and fills.
4. Creating and editing symbols, and organizing the library in which symbols are stored.
5. Importing multimedia files, including bitmapped images and audio and video clips.
6. Exporting ("publishing") a Flash movie in a format suitable for streaming over the web.
7. Integrating a Flash movie into a web page, and testing its performance under realworld conditions.
8. Using Flash's built-in ActionScript editor to write and edit ActionScript code.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Digital Media 37, page 2
Fall 2008
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Creating ActionScript scripts that make use of basic programming elements such as variables,
if/then statements, and loops.
Using built-in ActionScript classes such as the Sound, Date, Array, and String classes.
Creating user-defined classes.
Writing ActionScript code to process input from standard radio buttons, check boxes, and text
fields.
Writing ActionScript code to control movie clips, sounds, and other multimedia elements.
Using Flash's debugging features to test and revise ActionScript code.
Methods of Presentation:
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Computer demonstrations
Lecture with whiteboard
Online tutorials
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Create a web page incorporating Flash-based navigation elements
b. Create a Flash movie whose behavior changes according to the user's selections of
radio buttons or check boxes
c. Create a Flash movie whose behavior changes based on text that a user types into a box
d. Create a Flash movie containing sound or video, in which the duration, volume, or content
of the sound or video is governed by user-operated controls
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Homework assignments
b. Quizzes and exams, including a final exam
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Adobe Flash CS3 Professional How- Tos: 100 Essential Techniques, Mark Schaeffer, Peachpit
Press, Sep 27, 2007
ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training, Todd Perkins,
Peachpit Press, Sep 25, 2007
Special Student Materials:
Portable file-storage device, such as a USB flash drive
iFolder\DIGM37.doc
New: 11/30/07